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India’s ODI Squad for New Zealand Tour: Strategic Experiments or Tough Calls?

 The ODI series against New Zealand will commence on January 11 in Vadodara, followed by the second match in Rajkot on January 14. The series will conclude with the third and final ODI on January 18 in Indore.


Key highlights 


  • Shubman Gill returns as Leader

  • Hardik Pandya has been rested,

  • Mohammed Siraj has been included in the squad.

  • Shreyas Iyer has returned to the squad and will assume the role of vice-captain, subject to clearance of his fitness. 


India ODI squad against New Zealand 


Shubman Gill (Skipper), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Shreyas Iyer (vice-capt)(subject to fitness clearance), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh and Yashasvi Jaiswal


Following the announcement of the squad, several questions naturally arise.

  1. Is Ruturaj Gaikwad being considered as part of a broader experimental approach by the team management?

  2. Is Mohammed Shami’s international career currently at a crossroads?



Is Rituraj part of the experiment? 

    Despite delivering strong performances in the previous ODI series against Australia, Ruturaj Gaikwad has not been included in the current squad. This omission has raised questions among fans and analysts alike. One possible explanation could be the team management’s long-term strategy of experimenting with alternative combinations and assessing other players in preparation for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup. However, selection decisions are often influenced by multiple factors, and the true rationale behind this choice may become clearer with time.


Is Mohammed Shami’s career at a crossroads?

    Despite consistently strong performances in domestic competitions, Mohammed Shami continues to be overlooked for selection in the Indian cricket team. This prolonged absence has become a matter of concern for his international career. It raises an important question: has the Indian team management moved on from Shami, or does he no longer meet the performance benchmarks and expectations set by the selectors? While the exact reasoning remains unclear, it would be only fair for Shami to be given an opportunity to prove his value, especially considering his experience and reputation as one of India’s finest seam bowlers. At present, the uncertainty surrounding his future in the national setup remains a significant talking point.


    The selection of India’s ODI squad for the New Zealand series reflects a mix of strategic planning, player rotation, and long-term vision. While the inclusion of experienced names and the return of key players like Shreyas Iyer add stability, the continued exclusion of performers such as Ruturaj Gaikwad and Mohammed Shami has understandably sparked debate. These decisions may point toward experimentation and future-focused planning, particularly with the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup in mind. However, consistent performances have traditionally been the strongest currency for selection, making the current omissions difficult to ignore. As the series unfolds, the team management’s intent may become clearer, but for now, questions around fairness, opportunity, and direction remain firmly in focus.



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Comments

  1. Anonymous5 January 2026 at 15:51

    Rutu's exclusion shows the competition in ict...there are numerous of person for single place...but ofcourse he deserves that place seeing his performance... it's definitely hard for him..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Game on Field5 January 2026 at 16:01

      Absolutely. It’s the classic 'problem of plenty.' Great for Indian cricket depth, but heartbreaking for individual players who perform and still sit out.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous5 January 2026 at 15:54

    Thank you for this analysis.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous5 January 2026 at 15:56

    GOOD INFORMATION

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6 January 2026 at 00:33

      Glad you liked it. Stay tuned for more like this

      Delete
  4. Himanshu5 January 2026 at 16:05

    It’s unfortunate for any player to miss out but Ruturaj featured in the last series as a replacement for Shreyas. Ideally, once Shreyas returns to the squad, Ruturaj would have to make way . However, I genuinely hope Ruturaj continues to get more chances going forward.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Game on Field6 January 2026 at 10:11

      Agree that Shreyas has been a core player, but ignoring a player who just scored a century in the last series sends a strange message. Ruturaj has been incredibly consistent across domestic and international chances. It’s high time the selectors think of a 'long rope' for him in the middle order or as a regular starter. He’s too good to be on the bench.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous5 January 2026 at 16:38

    In depth analysis... thank you for the information..

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous5 January 2026 at 17:30

    The ODI squad selection reflects a clear transition phase for Indian cricket, balancing experimentation with experience. While backing senior players ensures stability, continued inconsistency in selections—especially around middle order and bowling combinations—raises questions about long-term planning. With the 2027 World Cup in focus, this series appears more like a testing ground than a settled strategy. The management’s challenge remains converting short-term experiments into a coherent, future-ready core.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Priyesh Ranjan5 January 2026 at 17:31

    The ODI squad selection reflects a clear transition phase for Indian cricket, balancing experimentation with experience. While backing senior players ensures stability, continued inconsistency in selections—especially around middle order and bowling combinations—raises questions about long-term planning. With the 2027 World Cup in focus, this series appears more like a testing ground than a settled strategy. The management’s challenge remains converting short-term experiments into a coherent, future-ready core.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Game on Field6 January 2026 at 00:32

      Interesting take, but do you think 'consistency' is even possible right now? With several seniors nearing the end of their careers, the management might be forced into this experimentation to find out who can actually handle the pressure. Better to fail in these bilateral series than in a World Cup knockout."

      Delete
    2. Rishabh Gupta6 January 2026 at 10:06

      Great analysis Priyesh and Himanshu

      Delete
  8. Nirmal prince jha5 January 2026 at 23:52

    team india selection now a days too random, selection committee seems to be biased as they don’t give enough chances to new comers like ruturaj. Nevertheless thought provoking article.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Game on Field6 January 2026 at 10:07

      You've touched on a hot topic! There is always a lot of debate around whether the team should lean more toward transition or stability. Seeing how players like Ruturaj fit into the future blueprint of the team is something many fans are watching closely.

      Delete
  9. Raj Gupta6 January 2026 at 10:18

    Nice Information 👍

    ReplyDelete

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